Old Time Publications

We are all accustomed to our daily newspaper. We take it as one of our necessities of life. When one has the opportunity to review an old newspaper of fifty or sixty years ago, we marvel at the type of news it contained and the odd way of advertising compared with our modern salesmanship.

I would like to take you back to the year of 1805 when The Bedford Gazette newspaper first published the news, even though some events happened a month or more previously, yet it was the latest.

The advertisements were completely different. Nearly every issue contained a reward announcement. For instance, one reward of six cents was offered for a 17-year-old indented girl. Another reward of fifty cents was offered for an apprentice to the weaving trade, a male about 16, four feet nine or ten, fair complexion and slim made. Whoever apprehended the boy was entitled to the above reward, but no charge would be paid for bringing him home. The highest award we found was one for five shillings. It appeared in the January 6, 1807 issue. The reward was for an indented boy 14. ``Who ever apprehends and secures said run-away so that the subscriber may get him again shall receive the above reward and reasonable charges if brought home."

We were not surprised to find a detailed report of the Treasury of Bedford County published for the benefit of the residents of the county. The report of receipts and expenditures for the period from February 10, 1806 to February 11, 1807 contained one item in the expense column that caught our eye. It was "premiums for wolf-heads—$23.86. "

The farmers of the county could keep up with the latest Baltimore (Md. ) Market Prices. Superfine flour was $7.00 per barrel; fine flour $6.50 per bbl; rye $4.50 per bbl; beef $12.00 per bbl; pork $21.00 per bbl. Wheat was $1.20 per bushel; salt 65 cents per bu; bacon 12 cents per lb.; butter 18 cents per lb.; beeswax 42 cents per lb.; soap 10 cents per lb.; sugar 18 cents per lb.; with molasses at 50 cents per gallon and Whiskey 58 cents per gallon.

We have heard the old adage "history repeats itself. " The newspaper printed November 24, 1806 contained a notice that "The Bedford Gazette is removed to the brick building lately occupied as an office by Wm. Reynolds Esq. in Julian Street, nearly opposite the Prothonotary's Office - at the sign of the Beehive."

The editor at that time drew many criticisms from his readers just as he does today. In one instance, he wrote the following verse in reply to one sarcastic comment. "That he who tries all men to please, and not himself offend. He may begin the work today but God knows when he'll end."

An advertisement suggested that the "readers save their rags; two cents per pound will be paid for clean linen and cotton rags at this office." A second ad was "Wanted - at the office of the Bedford Gazette a number of green sheepskins; and a few cords of clean maple wood, for which a generous price will be given." Apparently the printer was having difficulty in obtaining payment for his work because in the December 6, 1806 issue he inserted this notice "Those who stand indebted to the printer hereof and cannot make it convenient to advance the cash are respectively informed that wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat, potatoes, wood, butter, cheese, rags, etc., etc., will be received in payment at market price if immediately delivered."

The editor also had to issue a notice, that all persons writing to the paper had to l: ~ '~e postage on all their letters, otherwise they would not be attended to.

A local doctor used the newspaper to request all persons who were indebted to him to come forward immediately and pay off their accounts as he was desirous of settling his books up to the present time. He also took this opportunity to notify the public that he had just received a supply of fresh medicines, spirits of turpentine, and an assortment of paints and such other articles as are found for sale in an Apothecary shop. (Can you imagine our modern doctors selling paint today?)

Results or elections in the districts of Bedford County for 1805 were given for Bedford, Hopewell, McConneltown, Crossings, Morrison's Cove, Wills Creek, Cumberland Valley and Tonoloway. These districts existed in the county at that time.

A forerunner of our Bedford County Fair was held in the Borough of Bedford on the fourth Monday of October (1805) and to continue two days.

In case you were interested in purchasing a property back at that time there was one announcement "Capital Plantation for sale in Cumberland Valley Township, 18 miles from Bedford and 12 miles from Cumberland - 228 acres."

The residents of Morrison's Cove and those living on Dunnings Creek were interested in building a roadway to connect the two communities. The issue of the Gazette dated May 12, 1806 contained the following notice "The want of a better road from Morrison's Cove to the settlement on Dunnings Creek, having been a subject of much complaint - all persons desirous to have one are requested to meet on the mountain early on Saturday the 31 instant, to view the break already made through the steepest and worst part, and as the least doubt does not now remain but it can be done, to bring with them suitable tools in order to assist in completing a good passable road for a horse; which it is believed may hereafter be widened and improved into a waggon road at a moderate expense."

The road from Bedford to the Dunnings Creek area must have been well traveled but there was one place that became impassable at certain times of the year. This place was at the Dunnings Creek narrows crossing. A petition was presented to the county to build a bridge at this location. However, the people strenuously objected to the proposal that a tollgate be erected at this place. One third of the fee collected would go for the maintenance of the bridge, a third for the erecting of a new bridge in the future and the remaining part would go to the tollgate keeper. The Burgess of the Borough used the news media to announce a coming "town meeting" at the Court House. By the way the Court House was located on the corner north and directly opposite the present Court House. (The present building was erected in 1828 and finished and occupied in 1829).

On April 7, 1806 Chief Burgess Terence Campbell announced the following ordinance "There shall be a fine of 50 cents altogether with the costs of prosecution be imposed on any person who shall gallop any horse, mare or gelding within the limits of the Borough. One half of the fine to go to the informer and the other half for the use of the Borough. " Also "a fine of 50 cents be imposed on any person who shall fire a gun or pistol, or any other firearm within the limits of the Borough, to be recovered and applied as other fines within the said Borough. "

If you were mechanically inclined and wanted to learn to be a gunsmith you were to contact Peter White. His ad announced that he wanted "an industrious journeyman, gunsmith, to whom will be paid five pounds per month and found; and employment as long as he wishes to stay. Also will be taken as an apprentice to the above business a smart active lad from 14-16 years of age. The terms will be in proportion to the age and abilities of the youth." (Mr. White was one of our earliest gunsmiths in the county. His advertisement must have had results because several of our gunsmiths in the 1830-50's had been apprentices of this man.)

The present day lotteries are not new. Back in the early 1800's the State authorized the "Susquehannah Lottery. " Sales were made each week at $10.00 per ticket. Tickets could be purchased at two sources in Bedford. A total of 1035 prizes were offered. The top prize was $10,000 and the lowest $6.00. This lottery was for removing obstacles and improving the Susquehannah River.

Thomas Stewart placed an announcement that on June 15, 1807 he was opening a new Hotel, known as "Stewarts Hotel, a house of entertainment for all travelers.

An item concerning the important persons of the world appeared on April 14, 1807. This item was dated January 25 from London, England. It concerned Bonepart's health being "so impaired by his anxiety and fatigue to which he had of late been exposed as to impress his medical attendants with most serious apprehensions for his safety. He had been for some time labored under a dropsical complaint and contrary to the advise of his physicians, persisted in the use of opium. He also drinks excessive quantities of coffee without either sugar or cream."

The fair ladies of 1807 were honored by an editorial which we were quite surprised referred to them as " An Animated Picture. " For your amusement we have copied the item in full—

"Woman is a nice and very complicated machine. Her springs are infinitely delicate, and differ from those of man pretty nearly as the work of a repeating watch does from that of a town clock. Look at her; how delicately formed; examine her senses, how exquisite and nice. Observe her understanding, how subtle and acute; but look into her heart; there is the watchwork, composed of parts so minute in themselves, and so wonderfully combined, that they must be seen by a microscopic eye to be clearly apprehended.

The perception of a woman is as quick as lightning. Her penetration is intuition, I had almost said instinct. By the glance of her eyes she shall draw deep and just conclusion. Ask her how she formed it; she cannot answer the question. The philosopher deduces the inferences, and his inferences shall be right, but he gets to the head of the staircase, I may say so by slow degrees and mounting step by step she arrives at the top of the staircase as well as he; but whether she leaped or flew there is more than she knows herself."